Steve Sorensen (1949-2009)

We lost my father-in-law on Friday evening after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He had already long outlived the predictions for the disease, but he only ended up with one year after receiving his lung transplant last year. We all expected more... Last Tuesday, K's mom called us all down to Stanford Medical Center, where he was in the ICU. We flew down early Wednesday to be with them; everyone (all 7 siblings and most spouses) were able to be there and with him as he passed. We were able to speak to him and provide support to his dear wife as she made some really tough decisions. In the end, the experience of his passing was deeply moving and sacred to all of us (each in our own way, I'm sure), so I won't go into detail here.

I'm not even going to try to capture all that Steve meant to me in this post. He was another father to me and an unfailing friend. I feel his absence deeply. I had the privilege of helping compile his obituary (largely written by his sweet mother and a long-time friend at work), which ran today in the Deseret News and other papers here and in Arizona and Idaho. I've pasted it below as well.

While I'm deeply saddened by the separation, I know that he's returned home to a better place where he doesn't have to suffer through the malidies of mortality, that we'll be together again as a family in the presence of our Heavenly Father and that he'll be resurrected with a perfect and glorified body when that time comes. Because of this, the "sting of death" is lessoned, replaced by comfort and peace.

Steven Ray Sorensen was born Oct. 18, 1949, in Mesa, AZ, to Bert and Raeola Sorensen. His early years were spent at the P.Z. Ranch near Winkelman, AZ. By age five, his family had located to Phoenix, AZ; and at age 14 to Winslow, AZ, where Steve graduated from Winslow High School in 1967.

Steve began college at Northern Arizona University on a music scholarship. He interrupted his education to serve as an LDS missionary in the Kentucky/ Tennessee mission. After his mission, he continued his education at Ricks College in Rexburg, ID, and later at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, where he earned a B.S. in history and a M.S. in library science.

Steve's greatest loves were his family, LDS church history and fishing a dry fly. In 1974, Steve married Mareen Peterson in the LDS temple in Provo. In 1980, he began a distinguished career as an archivist for the church, serving many years as the Director of Church Archives, a stimulating job that took him to many areas of the world. Steve's significant contributions to the preservation of the church's history were acknowledged by many, including the Mormon History Association, which awarded him its highest distinction in 2006. At the time of his death, he was an editor of the Joseph Smith Papers.

Steve's earthly life ended May 29, 2009, at the Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, CA, where he had been a lung-transplant recipient following a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He slipped quietly away surrounded by his wife and seven children.

Steve is survived by his wife Mareen; seven children, Dane (Cassandra), Kirsten (Jason) Carson, Andrew (Merilee), Ernest (Melanie), Jon, Annikka (Jason) Fluckiger, Curtis (Emily); 11 grandchildren; five siblings Douglas, Susan Bryson, Andrea Rhoton, Gwen Higginson, Jean Zufelt; and his parents.

Steve's family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses at the Stanford University Medical Center, including the Heart and Lung Transplant team, as well as Dr. Tracy Hill in Provo, UT, who worked tirelessly to allow Steve to spend more precious time with his family and loved ones.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 4, at 11 a.m., at the Sharon East Stake Center at 1060 E. 2400 N., Provo, UT. Public viewings will be held on Wednesday, 6-8 p.m., at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, at 495 S. State, Orem, UT; and preceding the funeral service at 9:45-10:45 a.m. Interment will be at the Pineview Cemetery, on Highway 47 in Ashton, ID, on Saturday, June 6, at noon. Condolences at www.sundbergolpinmortuary.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis, http://www.coalitionforpf.org/cpf_contribute.php.